It's not really a perk of the job, but it's one that Randy Smithpeters does … with a smile on his face.

Smithpeters not only plays the role as school administrator and head boys' basketball coach at Harrisburg High School, along with father and friend, but now is playing the role of Director of Basketball Operations.

A role reserved in the college or professional ranks for someone who is in charge of making sure transportation is arranged, along with hotel reservations and all that comes with traveling is being done by Smithpeters, and the help of those at Harrisburg High School.

According to Smithpeters, the last few hours have been nothing but a blur.

"That's the thing about the having the Super on Tuesday and having to be in Peoria on Thursday; everything is just a blur. The game gets lost in the shuffle a lot of the time there, because you have so much preparation to do for meals, hotel arrangements. It's better than not having to do it."

That's what emits the smile from Smithpeters as his Bulldogs are the southern Illinois representative in this weekend's state basketball tournament at Carver Arena in Peoria.

Smithpeters acknowledged the concept that many of Harrisburg are in the same situation right now that the basketball team is in. Frantic and panic mode.

"We're all just scrambling trying to make arrangements to get up there by Friday."

For the most part, Smithpeters said the team and school is still celebrating its Super Sectional victory Tuesday, when the Bulldogs knocked off Teutopolis 77-66.

"We had a great crowd at the arena and that was a really fun atmosphere, not only from the Harrisburg crowd, but from the numbers that were there for both games. I don't know how many text messages I had. That's all I really did on the bus ride home was to respond to text messages and congratulations from across southern Illinois. A lot of coaches and friends. That's neat that a lot of people are following us and people support us.

"We do represent the south now and the south has been very good about supporting their representative. Hopefully we can go up there and play as well as we can play."